TURN IT OFF, MAN!

River Road TV Tower Lights Light

Up the Night, Violate Multiple County and State

Codes After Monday Installation

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Look, up in the sky! Is it fireworks? Is it lightning? No, it's the TV tower (formerly WDCA 20) on River Road in Bethesda. Apparently, workers installed new safety lights on the tower during the day Monday. Then they went home. After the sun went down, residents in neighborhoods around the tower were in for quite a light display.

The explosive flashes are the most blatant form of light pollution I have ever witnessed. They are a major distraction whether you are just walking, or are attempting to drive on the streets below. You literally cannot miss them. Imagine a silent 4th of July fireworks display... ...that never ends! And each flash lights up the entire sky as far as you can see - just like lightning.

The flashes reflect off of the upper floors of houses as far away as Woodacres Park. Worse yet, is the effect on residents of the Westwood Tower, Park Bethesda, and Kenwood buildings. If you have a unit on the tower side of those buildings, you either have the world's thickest curtains, or you are being devastated by the atom-bomb-like flashes.

What were they thinking?

The severe degree of light pollution makes clear that these lights are in violation of several county and state codes. Yet, as of this morning, no action has been taken.

The fact that this can be let go - despite all of our elected officials' empty words about "light pollution" - is yet another example of failed leadership on the basic, day-to-day community issues.

How many councilmembers does it take to change a light bulb?

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

COUNCIL'S BUDGET

POLICIES WORSE THAN

BANKRUPT

CALIFORNIA'S, EXPERT

SAYS

You've probably heard about the state of California's budget catastrophe. This is the state that had to issue IOUs, remember? California is in just about the worst fiscal shape of any state in the union. They've eliminated their welfare safety net, and are in the process of releasing prisoners just to save money(!!).

In fact, says Bruce Cain, a Berkeley political science professor, California is "America's poster child for fiscal recklessness," in a Washington Post op-ed.

So what would you think if Dr. Cain went on to tell you that our County Council is even more "reckless" with finances than California?

To quote Cain:

"Maryland's Montgomery County, home to about 1 million peoople, including a number of California's most prominent national critics, has a budget deficit of $1 billion. Based on California's population of nearly 36 million, if the state spent like Montgomery County, its deficit would be almost twice current projections."

Wow. Do you realize the significance of what he is saying? Everyone in America who follows national events would likely agree that the state legislature in California has been fiscally irresponsible in both creating, and addressing, its financial crisis.

So when an actual expert tells you that your county council is even more reckless and irresponsible with your taxpayer dollars than the "poster child for for fiscal recklessness," and that entire body is running for reelection...

...you are ready to vote for Change Beyond Belief. Elect Robert Dyer, and we can restore fiscal responsibility to Montgomery County.

I WANT MY

DEMtv

Your Tax Dollars Fund an

All-Democrats, All-The-Time

Telethon on Local Government

Channels

Robert Dyer, other Republican Candidates

Excluded from Public Access Political Programs

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

My opponents are still running scared and hiding, as all candidate forums for May were cancelled. Now we're into June, and this month's forums are cancelled so far, as well. Where are they hiding? Well, they're spending a lot of time in the Montgomery County Cable Office.

Regular readers know that I have kept you up to date on the activities of County Cable Montgomery (Ch. 6), which have included the use of taxpayer funds to produce and air what are essentially 30 min. campaign ads for Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Ike Leggett used taxpayer-funded airtime on his "One on One" program (one of about 3 recurring programs Mr. Leggett has at his disposal on CCM) to engage in campaign activity in 2009, when he criticized special election candidate Robin Ficker. CCM airs an advertorial series on the MTA, which provides no transit service within Montgomery County; ergo, why are taxpayers paying to have it broadcast when it has no relevance to us? And how about that slick Ambulance Fee ad on which taxpayer funds were spent - before it was even county law?!

I could go on, but, wait, there's more!

In the midst of an unprecedented budget crisis, with a $1 billion dollar deficit, somehow our humble County Cable Office was able to expand and purchase expensive and unnecessary new equipment!

What the heck?

Allow me to introduce you to "CR." This doesn't star George Clooney (that was ER). CR is a slick, new program that does the same job as the others on CCM: promote the executive and council.

But there's a new, expensive twist: Filmed with the aforementioned new HD camera, CR airs not only on CCM, but also on most - if not all - of Comcast's "local" channels, including Rockville 11, Takoma Park 13, and the Montgomery College channel.

This means that, at just about any hour, you can find the inescapable CR running on one channel or another. Ethical questions abound, as Rockville residents - who might not hear the latest fictional accomplishments of county leaders whose names they don't even recognize - now get a daily dose of Leggett & Co.

Do you know what CR on every local channel reminds me of? That law that says you can't put campaign literature into a mailbox or mail slot. The county cable office is essentially stuffing campaign ads into the broadcast "mailboxes" of local residents.

Hold on though, because we're throwing in a complete set of oven mitts and a free cookbook!!!

Something called MMC 16 is also producing political ads for local candidates - free for the candidates, but not for you, the taxpayer!

Two shows, "Political Pulse," hosted by Charles Duffy, and "Inside Out," hosted by Pat Smith, have managed to feature just about every one of the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County Council At-Large. Strangely, neither myself, nor Brandon Rippeon, the other Republican candidate for CC At-Large have received an invitation to appear.

George Leventhal, Duchy Trachtenburg, Marc Elrich, Becky Wagner, Hans Reimer and Jane de Winter each have had a half hour to introduce themselves to you, the voter, on MMC 16. (And those are just the shows I happened to catch!). And in a very friendly environment.

On these programs, hosts throw more softballs in 30 minutes than Jennie Finch. (BTW, did you hear the Super Whammy Mr. Duffy let Gov. Martin O'Malley get away with last week? Gov. O'Malley said, in preposterously defending the irresponsible cart-before-the-horse growth policies of this council, that - in essence - we have a grand tradition in America of growing before we put the infrastructure in place. And that citizens shouldn't be too hard on our poor elected officials for that reason. Mr. Duffy's follow-up to that outrageous assertion? Nothing. Unbelievable! That's the best one since Michael Laris called George Leventhal a "pro-business councilman" [hey, no giggling, please] and let Mr. Leventhal declare he is solely motivated by delivering services to the poor. Again, no follow-up from Mr. Laris, either).

No incumbent has been authoritatively grilled on their direct responsibility for the fiscal crisis they created. You've heard the new talking points by now. You know, this whole thing just kind of hit us by surprise... It's an international economic downturn... We had good intentions... The taxpayers and unions made us do it, but we've taken charge and the crisis is solved! [Hey, I said no giggles!]

Yeah, solved until that $900,000,000 bill hits the dais next May - and that's if we don't have another blizzard (Snowgate 2011?) this winter, and doesn't include the teacher pensions no one wants to talk about.

It's sure to be another budget disaster. So why can't challengers such as myself be heard on these taxpayer-funded, "public access" programs?

It could be that they just haven't gotten around to the Republicans yet. But there's also another reason to delay my appearance: It's the same strategy that Hillary Clinton tried against Barack Obama, and that John McCain and Rudy Giuliani tried in 2000 and 2008, respectively - the aura of inevitability.

Their reasoning may be that if you see Marc Elrich or Becky Wagner this early, and not me, that, well, they're the only ones running, in the minds of the viewers.

How successful was the "inevitability" strategy for Hillary, Mac, and Rudy? Get back to me on that.

I'm asking the incumbents again to meet the challengers in a series of debates. Some can be televised on these wonderful county cable channels! And I want my free 30 mins. on MMC, with a relaxed, easy-going question and answer session, like my opponents have had.

I'm ready for my close-up. I'm demanding equal time. I believe there is an FCC regulation on that.

I want my DEMtv.

At what point do TV programs become in-kind contributions of campaign ads? I feel we are rapidly reaching that point, if I am not invited to appear on these programs soon. I have filed for office a long time ago. The discrimination has to end.

Above all else, the use of these local channels is simply out of control. There's no way equipment should have been upgraded at a time like this. These channels are for the purposes of showing council meetings, traffic cameras (for CCM), and providing emergency information. If there is so much free time for puff programs beyond that, then clearly there is budget cutting to do.

That's why I've said we must "pull the plug" on these other uses of local cable channels, particularly when they are used to promote politicians.

Let politicians pay for their own ads, not the taxpayers.

MCEA

ENDORSEMENTS:

PAPER TIGER, HEAR

IT ROAR!

The Montgomery County teachers union kindly informed me last evening that I would not be receiving its endorsement. As a result, Robert Dyer will not be on the now-infamous Apple Ballot. I am disappointed but only a little bit surprised.

The implications for the future of union negotiations in the county are far greater than the implications for my campaign. This is probably a year in which having your name on the Apple Ballot will hurt as much as it will help. The anti-union Washington Post has spent much ink criticizing the endorsement process, and has suggested that one must make a contribution to receive the endorsement.

I can say that at no time was I asked by the MCEA to donate funds. Beyond that, having not been endorsed, I can't tell you if the request is made after you have been endorsed.

But back to those union negotiations, and a major question: are the county's unions still a potent force in politics, that can punish councilmembers who vote against them, or are they just paper tigers?

I'm encouraged that the police union is making some noise, and actually protesting what's happening. I hope they will continue to do so, as the council has repeatedly disrespected county police officers by scapegoating them for the budget disaster the council itself created.

In contrast, the MCEA is in the paper tiger category. Why else would they endorse George Leventhal and Marc Elrich? Remember, Leventhal and Elrich both voted for a budget that violated the state's education Maintenence of Effort law, and contained further MCPS cuts. And they voted to prevent teachers from receiving raises and COLAs multiple times (despite having agreed to give them both in a legally-binding labor agreement when cash was more plentiful).

The council has broken any labor agreement it pleased to over the past 2 years, and for the MCEA at least, that is apparently not a problem. In reality, though, it is a problem. The council has pushed the unions, and they have given up some of what their members were legally entitled to. At some point, compromise and expediency will fail to quiet county employees who will have gone several years without COLAs or raises.

So a situation now exists where negotiations will be almost meaningless, as the executive and council can promise the world, and just take the world back after the election.

Does that situation also include a dynamic where the politicians who take back what they promised county employees are not punished in the next election?

Again, it does for the MCEA. Sure, they didn't endorse Nancy Floreen. But Duchy Trachtenburg withdrew her name from consideration. So that left two openings, and two incumbents who voted to hurt county employees to preserve their own political careers (even though they owed those careers to the employee unions [go figure!!]).

I'm anxious to find out what will happen next. What's the point of fooling voters that certain names will support education, when there are no consequences for defying the trust of teachers and voters in general? Leventhal and Elrich have gotten away scot-free, and are laughing all the way to the bank.

I made a strong case before the MCEA interviewers. If elected, I will still follow through on my goals for MCPS, including all-day Pre-Kindergarten for every eligible child, full MOE funding each year, providing equal opportunities in education regardless of race, income or disability, and transforming our lowest performing schools.

Of course, we still have to address waste in the MCPS budget. We'll have to address the teacher pensions in 2011, and possibly the health benefits as well. And, unfortunately, we simply cannot afford to pay teachers CEO salaries in Montgomery County. I am concerned that cities like D.C. and NYC are turning education into a game of greed. Not only is a passion for education being replaced by Powerball-esque salaries as the main motivation for entering the field of teaching, but now children are being paid to do their schoolwork(!!). It's beyond outrageous, and deeply disturbing. I can't imagine we'll follow that obscene model here, because - if for no other reason - our county is financially broke, thanks to our incumbent councilmembers.

Whether or not I had been endorsed, my approach to all of these issues would have been the same.

I'm committed to having equal opportunities for every student in Montgomery County, and to restoring the public's trust in our county's financial practices.

I don't mind being the Lone Ranger in doing so, because the voters are telling me every day that they are ready for Change Beyond Belief on November 2.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS

What do Robert Dyer, a giant walking cookie, and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich have in common?

(I'll bet you thought this was a trick question).

All 3 of us were working the crowds at Rockville's Hometown Holidays celebration this past weekend.

If you were lucky enough to be in Ocean City, then you missed a giant cookie walking around Rockville Town Center. You missed Bob Ehrlich (I actually missed Gov. Ehrlich myself on Saturday, because I was there from 5-8pm). You missed the Taste of Rockville. You missed Buffalo Wild Wings and Gordon Biersch.

And, you missed me doing my James Carville-on-the-Montgomery-County-Council-Budget-Crisis impersonation!

"They could have sent the Woods Hole people! They could have sent the Scripps people!"

By the way, although the Washington Post took the council mightily to task in yesterday's editorial, I found their concluding recommendations troubling. The Post declined to "finish" the editorial: based on all of the evidence laid out in the earlier paragraphs, the editorial should have ended by calling for the ousting of every member of this failed County Council.

Instead of that - or even substantive suggestions for fundamentally restructuring government, or cutting a bloated, $4 billion budget - the Post said "candidates" should forgo union donations, "refuse to answer any" questionnaire question "that would commit them to undefined future spending" (News Flash: the MCEA is the only county union to send a questionnaire so far, and none of the questions asked me to "commit" to "undefined future spending," so I'm not sure what the Post is talking about), and said the county "should beef up its rainy-day reserve funds."

By themselves, these steps would do nothing to solve our structural deficit!

"They've got to get down here and take control of this, put somebody in charge of this thing, and get this thing moving!"

The council's budget in no way addressed the structural deficit; it merely raised taxes and fees astronomically, and slashed all the wrong items, balancing the budget squarely upon the backs of working families, the poor, seniors, children and the disabled.

"We need to launch a criminal investigation..."

Then, in January, the council will raise taxes like you've never paid before. Again, that does not solve the structural deficit, and will put the county in danger of bankruptcy. Not to mention the loss of our AAA bond rating. So why has the council refused to take action?

"There's a thousand things that they could do, they just need to get down here and start doing something!"

The council has new talking points, but no voter I talked to in Rockville this weekend was buying them. Those who know about the county council's Energy Supertax are furious; those who didn't know were about to explode when I told them about it. Imagine living paycheck to paycheck during a recession, and then your county council drops a financial atomic bomb like this on your family's finances - just because they believe it will get them reelected! (Heckuva strategy).

It's outrageous!

It sounds like November 2 is going to be a day of reckoning for this out-of-touch council. Don't panic; help is on the way! With one press of the voting machine touchscreen, you bring Change Beyond Belief to Rockville and Montgomery County, by voting for Robert Dyer.

CHINA ADOPTS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

"SMART" GROWTH

CONCEPT

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Montgomery County's outgoing Planning Board Chairman, Dr. Yes, and sidekick Rollin Stanley - in league with the developers and the County Council - are touting "smart" growth. This involves not only massive projects like White Flint (Carmageddon East) and Science City (Carmageddon West), but, increasingly, having your neighborhood's commercial strip bulldozed for a new "walkable town center."

Never mind that only 15% of residents use transit (and before you start criticizing, I am a supporter of transit, just not one who is out of touch with reality). But the "smart" growth plan is really about two things: more property taxes from more units with wealthier residents, and gradually reducing the number of single family homes and farms in the county.

Neighborhood shopping centers are gathering places for the neighborhood. "Smart" growth turns them into regional destinations, which actually increases congestion on roads.

Here are some quotes from a USA Today article on a new "smart" growth movement in China; tell me if they sound familiar to a Montgomery County resident:

"Wang [Weiguo]'s attitude is to bring on the bulldozers."

(In Montgomery County, we can say that in 3 letters: ZTA: Zoning Text Amendment).

"The [Chinese] government plans a makeover dubbed the 'Beijing Time Cultural City,' which will create a large public square, museum, shops and underground parking garage in the neighborhood." (!!!)

Critics call the resulting town center "soulless...just a film set."

(Like many failed "town centers" recently built in the county, right? The outstanding exception, of course, is Bethesda Row. Bethesda Row is an example of good planning, combined with a well-thought-out effort to match demographics with businesses that appeal to those individuals. Furthermore, while traffic in Bethesda continues to be a nightmare, the city does have the transit infrastructure in place. It was enhanced by adding the free Bethesda Circulator, which is a fantastic example of how the right transit options and design can increase usage and mobility).

(Some people in Beijing are being "relocated," just as many current residents and businesses will be shut out of the "new" Wheaton, and have been in the "new" Silver Spring. That's just plain wrong).

In short, a growth policy designed to solely benefit developers and politicians is wrong, no matter what country or county you are talking about. Another strategy, make transit expensive - but make driving super-expensive through artificial means (mileage tax, parking rates, parking tax - Nancy Floreen's was $250) to force you out of your car, draining your wallet on transit costs.

We need a new Growth Policy based on reality and sound planning, and that protects rural/suburban/urban livability, mobility, schools and the environment for all residents of Montgomery County - not just a select elite who can afford Lexus Lane tolls.

Join me in this crusade, to bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County. The future of our towns and neighborhoods depends on it.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

DID YOU EAT YOUR

CHUNKY SOUP?

Chunky Soup spokesman - and, in his spare time, Redskins quarterback - Donovan McNabb has selected his new home in the D.C. area. And, unless you are a member of the Montgomery County Council, or are Steve Silverman, you probably wouldn't be surprised to find out that McNabb chose Northern Virginia over Montgomery County.

Why would he do that? Let me channel Mr. Silverman: "It's not because of our high taxes, our lack of airport access, our transportation gridlock, or the fact that - thanks to the county council's new budget - MCPS class sizes will increase this fall."

With new, regressive taxes falling squarely on the backs of the poor, the elderly and working families, Chunky Soup may just be too extravagant for MoCo budgets anyway.

Attn: Damascus, Germantown, Clarksburg, Barnesville, Boyds, Dickerson Ride On riders:

If your Ride On bus route hasn't been cut already by the County Council, you may be interested to know that they've announced you can no longer buy Ride On passes at the Upcounty Services Center in Germantown.

Your tax dollars - and the County Council's "commitment" to transit and "green" - at work.

KENSINGTON

DEBATE

EXCLUSIVE

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

I was in Kensington last night for the Mayor and Council debate. To establish my Kensington bonafides, there is quite a bit of Robert Dyer music trivia and history there and in Wheaton.

My first professional recording was at a studio in the shopping center on Connecticut Avenue next to Hardware City. How this came about, the story behind the B-side of the single... ...you'll have to wait for the Robert Dyer "Behind the Music" episode someday. The A-side was a cover of Gypsy Road by 80s hair metal band Cinderella. That is off of their Long Cold Winter CD, which is not really hair metal at all, and you should check that album out on iTunes (well, at least when you're not downloading Robert Dyer). Great record.

But I digress. You get the idea, though, that someone who ate at Roy Rogers when there was a Roy Rogers in Kensington, and got a toy gas tanker truck from the now wrongly-maligned gas stations there doesn't cotton much to the idea of bulldozing the Connecticut Ave. strip for those cookie-cutter "town center" buildings. I've never thought badly of the strip through there, and it provides important services to a large number of people - many of whom do not live in Kensington.

Mayor Pete Fosselman does have a good point when he says the voters have spoken. Last year's election was a very clear choice of zoning change vs. keeping the current historic qualities of the town. Every person had the opportunity to vote, and my recollection was that the pro-development candidates won in a landslide. So while I favor keeping things pretty much the way they are, you have to respect the wishes of the voters. At least in Kensington, residents are able to have slightly more input into planning issues in their town, as opposed to those of us who live in unincorporated areas of the county.

In addition to the scoop on the debate, I'm about to scoop the Post and Gazette here (mainly because the Post doesn't cover Montgomery County anymore, and because the Gazette doesn't print until tomorrow): Mayor Fosselman announced that the third mayoral candidate, Duane Rollins, ended his campaign Monday morning. That leaves a matchup between Fosselman and longtime resident Richard Orens.

The council candidates are incumbents Sean McMullin and John Thompson, and challengers Lorri Simmons and Lydia Sullivan. This debate was a very civil and uneventful one. In past years, there have been a bit more fireworks between audience members and candidates; the format of question cards read by the moderator bypassed those sort of direct confrontations.

To give you a cheat sheet for the 45-minute debate, I would break it down like this:

If you favor the way the sector plan is going, more multi-family housing, and taller buildings, you'd likely vote for McMullin, Thompson and Fosselman.

If you are concerned about the budget, Fosselman, Orens, Thompson, McMullin and Simmons all emphasized their own concerns about the financial future of the town.

If you are concerned about getting a new trash truck, Thompson, Orens and Simmons spoke to that. Mayor Fosselman noted (is this another scoop?) that residents may be unaware that trash collection has been informally outsourced already, due to the emergency hiring of temporary collectors. Fosselman argued that there has been no noticeable decline in quality of service during this time. If true, that does add to the case for outsourcing.

Fosselman, Thompson, and McMullin referred to pending tax increases. Orens said he would transfer funds to buy the trash truck, and cut his salary to $8000, if elected.

Simmons spoke of the need for more Ride On service, especially at later hours.

No one seemed thrilled about the idea of take-out liquor sales, but Thompson, McMullin, Fosselman, and Sullivan gave the proposal varying degrees of support. Orens warned of young people "getting sloshed." Thompson said county police told him there have been no problems around the two establishments nearby that currently sell beer and wine.

Well, no big thrills, but the issues were pretty clear, as were the candidates' positions on them.

I saw Delegate Al Carr (District 18); he actually knew who I was, even though I've never met him before. Former Kensington mayor Jayne Plank was in attendence, as well. I met a few new potential voters before leaving; fortunately, I had some flyers with me.

Like the Woodley Gardens shopping center in Rockville, and many others around the county, the pending changes in Kensington indicate some of the development choices ahead.

As pressures increase from Damascus to Westbard to turn every corner of the county into a "walkable town center," the debates in Kensington and elsewhere are fascinating to follow.

START

SPREADING

THE NEWS...

Montgomery County Councilmembers Sign Off

on Record Tax Increases, Ambulance Fee;

Blast Off on Taxpayer-funded

NYC Vacation?

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

...They're leaving today.

Two unidentified Montgomery County Councilmembers are joining a county "delegation" on an all-expenses-paid New York City vacation today.

After an OMG-we're-about-to-get-voted-out conversion to austerity, and a stiff reprimand to the residents of Montgomery County for making them spend all that darn money over the last 8 years, what is their next move?

Taking a taxpayer-funded day trip to the Big Apple! (At least I hope it's just a day trip).

Something tells me they won't be taking the Tripper or Vamoose bus, or (good heavens!) driving themselves there on 95 (some of our elected officials can't even drive themselves around the county).

So, who's picking up the tab for the Acela or shuttle flight?

What is the purpose of the trip? Supposedly, they are going to explain to the bond rating agencies why they shouldn't downgrade the county's AAA bond rating.

They're going to tell Gordon Gekko the same Orwellian tale spun by the council through the Washington Post last week: We had good intentions! The citizens of Montgomery County... they made us spend! They'll have to tighten their belts (even as we increase our own salaries over the years, collect pensions, buy the Webb Tract, take taxpayer-funded trips to NYC and OC, and give tax cuts to developers and keep spending on our political allies)! And now, you just gotta believe us! We've learned our lesson! We don't need to go to our rooms or go to bed without dessert!! Even though there is no evidence or reason to believe we'll change our ways after the election is out of the way, you just gotta believe us. Please!

Of course, they'll have to eat lunch - at taxpayer expense?

They might order a hot pizza pie at Motorino where they'll encounter NYC celebrities!

And for dinner, why not The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges? New York's new, posh dining spot on East 77th Street. According to Sam Sifton, it is "comfortable as wealth itself." Just what some Montgomery County big-spenders need. Hey, is that George Leventhal outside the MTV studios in Times Square?

I just have to ask: has anyone ever heard of Federal Express? The telephone (I hear Gordon Gekko still has his 80s original cordless)? Fax? Email? Teleconference? Go to Meeting? Say it with flowers? Does communicating a good fictional story to the agencies require an actual trip to Wall Street?

No, there's no substitute for the real thing. No, this isn't election-year theatrics. They've learned their lesson, just in time. Forget what they did for the last eight years, and that you're going to pay the bill for the next 80; the council is gonna make a brand new start of it - in old New York.

You just gotta believe 'em! The Post said so!

CAN WE TALK?

Incumbent Politicians Running

Scared as Candidate Forums are Cancelled,

Postponed

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Why are the incumbent members of the Montgomery County Council in hiding? And why are community groups and organizations - apparently friendly to those incumbents - cancelling or delaying their usual election year debates and forums?

Well, if I had just passed a 300% Energy Tax increase, a Cell Phone Tax increase (how does using your cell phone cost the county government, anyway?), and water bill increase, an electric bill increase, and a whopper of an Ambulance Fee, I'd probably be hiding too!

I remember quite well, that 4 years ago, several candidate forums had already been held by this time. Strangely, we're nearing June 1, and none of these forums has been scheduled this time around.

What's changed?

Everything.

With devastating cuts for seniors, MCPS, children, the poor, working families and the disabled, this budget retains full funding for the councilmembers' political cronies and the developers.

It's outrageous.

No wonder many groups who apparently used these powder puff, softball forums to highlight preferred candidates in past elections would like to wait for this to blow over. Or maybe just have hardly any debates at all. (To their credit, the Town of Chevy Chase is holding a District 1 and At-Large debate in the months ahead).

If the incumbents are so smart and super-qualified, why can't they come out and debate the challengers on the substantive issues? And that includes Republican challengers, by the way!

Come out, come out, where-ever you are...

The voters are waiting to hear you explain 8 years of failed leadership and Madoffonomics.

If the council is willing to pass hefty taxes now, just to save the developers and other buddies, can you imagine what your tax bill will be next year when they've gotten past the election?

You can stop the tax madness on November 2!

But here in the month of May, let's not be afraid to discuss the issues in public forums. I ask the incumbents to come out of hiding, and engage the council and county executive candidates in multiple candidate forums. If the incumbents are so much better than the challengers, what is there to fear in a civil, mature discussion of the serious issues and challenges faced by Montgomery County in 2010?

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY COUNCIL

AT-LARGE MEMBERS

UNANIMOUSLY

IMPOSE AMBULANCE

FEE ON COUNTY

RESIDENTS

Councilmembers Gambling with

Safety of the Public to Ensure

Budget Dollars Remain for Developers,

Political Cronies

Montgomery County At-Large Councilmembers George Leventhal, Duchy Trachtenberg, Nancy Floreen and Marc Elrich voted unanimously with a council majority to pass the dangerous Ambulance Fee yesterday.

This is their biggest and boldest move to put the public's safety at risk yet. Recently, George Leventhal described the rush job to merge the Park Police with the County Police as a "leadership moment." I call it a failed-leadership moment. Madly grasping at straws at the 11th hour, to keep budget funds for political cronies and the developers, and making a hasty decision before the impact on the safety of park users is fully understood, is not leadership. It's just plain reckless.

But a whopping Ambulance Fee on seniors, the poor, and the disabled is the biggest political game yet. This isn't only the latest attempt to undermine our county's volunteer fire departments by this council.

It is a trick played on the public. It is a law passed despite the opposition of a majority of county residents (that's called "governing against the people," last time I checked). It brought about unprecedented and unethical spending of taxpayer dollars, to produce a slick TV commercial and widely-distributed brochure touting the Fee - before it was law!

You can let the proponents of the Ambulance Fee know how you feel this November 2nd! And show your support for the brave men and women of our volunteer fire departments and BCC Rescue Squad, by voting for candidates like me, who oppose - and will strike down - this dangerous Ambulance Fee.

Help is on the way. No fee necessary.

DR. WEAST

CAPITULATES

AGAIN

This just in. The County Council and school board have reached an "agreement." They agree to cut 24.4 million dollars from MCPS. This is in violation of the state law requiring a minimum funding of schools - just like last year. The whole reason this law exists, is to prevent just such a set of wrong priorities from draining easy cash from education budgets, when times are tough.

It seems that all of these politicians are looking out for each other. Dr. Weast's threat of a lawsuit - which was the right thing to do - turns out to have been an empty one. No one will ever believe him again. No one can believe that any politician who signed off on cutting $24.4 million dollars from disabled and special education students, and ESOL and ELL students, is truly committed to meeting the current challenges faced by MCPS.

It's time to believe in a candidate who will stand up to the developers and special interests, and preserve the funding necessary to ensure Equal Opportunities in Education for every child in Montgomery County, regardless of race, disability or income level. That candidate is Robert Dyer. But it's not enough to "believe" in change. We need leadership that can deliver Change Beyond Belief. A change that will close the achievement gap and graduation rate disparity. A change that will close the early education, nutrition and technology gaps that cause the achievement gap. A change that will connect students to the changes in the county's economic engines that I will bring about. Finally, a change that lifts people up across the spectrum of education: from ensuring Pre-Kindergarten/Head Start for every eligible student to having economic opportunities and high-paying jobs available upon graduation from college.

We can have a Change Beyond Belief. All you have to do is join my crusade! Can you email my video to ten of your friends today? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Can you bring 1 person to the polls to vote? Can you email me through my website at www.RobertDyer.net to request a yard sign for your lawn? Would you like to volunteer for my campaign?

Each one of us can take a small action to bring a big change to Montgomery County this November - a Change that is Beyond Belief.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

COUNCIL RAISES YOUR

ENERGY TAXES 300%!

Wow! Seniors and working families across the county are about to get hit with massive electric bills. First, PEPCO is raising your rates. Second, the County Council voted to raise the tax you pay on electricity 300%! Three. Hundred. Percent. Even if you wear sweaters like Jimmy Carter, you'll still get a huge bill.

It's outrageous.

Then add on the next increase in your electric bill that will result from the County Council's other new Carbon Tax - the tax is on Mirant, but guess what: you pick up the tab, as you do with any other tax on business. Simple rule of thumb: any tax on business is a stealth tax on you. (I hear the council prefers the term "ghost").

Can you imagine the impact of all of this on those with fixed incomes, or who are just getting by paycheck to paycheck, even with food stamps?

Apparently, the councilmembers cannot. That's because they've made around $100,000 a year - at your expense. They don't have trouble paying their bills, and that can make a person grow out of touch with the reality of being a working person in Montgomery County.

Not everyone here is rich. They are just getting by, often to give their children the advantage of the high-quality education available in most county schools.

Flat, regressive taxes are not the answer. Making the real spending cuts the council is once again avoiding - and fundamentally restructuring government - are the only ways we can effectively fix our structural deficit.

We can't go on like this.

This new energy super tax has also ensured - ironically - that the county's revenues will continue to be low. That's because many county businesses will go out of business paying the tax, and because new businesses planning to relocate here have just called off those plans.

Where does the Chamber of Commerce come down on this? Will the Chamber finally stand up to the council? Will the Chamber endorse ANY of the incumbent councilmembers?

Are you tired of serving this council? Do you believe that public service means that the council serves the public, not the other way around? Do you think the council is required to keep the public trust by judiciously managing your taxpayer funds?

Then you are ready for Change Beyond Belief! You are ready to transform our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around!

Take action November 2! Tell the council who's boss! You pay their salaries. It's your turn to make a bold statement. You have the power. Take advantage of it, and exercise your right to vote.

HOME IN THE

COUNTRY

Monday evening, I spoke at a meeting of the Rural Women's Republican Club in Dickerson, hosted by Jay and Lynn Lipp.

Any opportunity to go to the rural areas of Montgomery County is welcomed by me, as regular readers know (especially if you've watched my tractor videos on the Robert Dyer Channel). That's where you'll find the real Montgomery County and the real America - and the kind of values that this county was founded upon. And where you would have found me Monday night!

Considering the downpours, it was bad on 270, but I've dealt with far worse on our woefully-in-need-of-expansion interstate. Once I got to Clopper Road, I was just about the only car out there, which really speeds things up; i.e., you can actually drive the speed limit.

Eventually, I was in Boyds, where the sign famously says, "Home in the Country" as you enter town. At one point, I passed over a small bridge and saw the creek below was nearing the top of its banks, and rushing fast - scary stuff. A while later, I passed over a similar bridge which actually had a sign warning drivers that this was a "Flood Area." The weird thing is, that creek looked pretty normal, while the raging one earlier did not have a "Flood Area" sign next to it. I love trains, and there are plenty around Boyds and Dickerson, including a CSX freight I saw near the MARC station.

On to the meeting, where there was plenty of food spread out, and a great turnout of engaged and enthusiastic Republicans. After a reception, each candidate had an opportunity to speak. I think there were 10-12 altogether. Eric Cary, who has a great chance to win the District 14 State Senate seat, was there along with Jim Pettit who is running for State Delegate.

Brandon Rippeon is the other Republican running for County Council At-Large, so you have two Republicans to vote for so far in this race. As evidenced by his speech, Brandon knows the issues. I think we represent the kind of common sense, responsible Republican leadership the voters are looking for, as opposed to the current council's highly partisan agenda, and inability to get anything done for 4 years. And we are both talking about education amongst our priorities, and that is a major concern for parents across the county right now, as our desperate councilmembers will cut anything except the money for their political cronies in the budget.

Several candidates running against Chris Van Hollen were also there, including Christine Thron and Bruce Stern, as well as Jim Rutledge, who is running to unseat Barbara Mikulski, who has been in Washington for an eternity. It's great to see some of these folks like Spector and Bennet finally being shown the door. They've collected millions in taxpayer money, lived like kings in Washington at our expense, and have expanded government to the largest size in history. It's called public service; it's not a career! Many on our County Council seem to think it's a career, as well. That's not what the Founders intended. Incumbents out!

Brian Murphy, who is challenging Bob Ehrlich in the Republican primary for governor, attended. He owns the Smith Island Baking Company, which makes the Smith Island Cake - the state dessert. Even Dan Campos was there, running for delegate in District 17 - this guy is everywhere and working hard in a race against stumbling incumbents.

It seemed like my speech went over pretty well, and people share my outrage with what is happening to our taxpayer money in Montgomery County. It's very generous of the RWRC and the Lipps to put on an event like this, and give candidates a chance to speak and meet voters. I look forward to seeing more Republicans in the rural areas - and Independents and Democrats, too! - as the campaign goes forward.

And we are going forward - to transform our government into one that serves the people, not the other way around.

I headed off onto the dark rural roads, and fortunately the dams held and the streams contained themselves. The rain lightened, and there was nothing but pitch black out there and a tiny orange stripe horizontally along the horizon. I love being out in the country at night. There weren't any stars Monday night, but it is so much quieter and the air is so much fresher. There isn't anybody much around, but you'd be surprised how many animals are hiding in those woods as you drive past.

We're going to preserve the rural areas, and our suburban areas, against the plans of developers and their buddies on the Planning Board and Council who want to turn this county into one big concrete canyon - and put you in a tiny apartment. We won't let it happen, and let's show them who's boss on Election Day, November 2!

I'm curious if Maryland's "Protective Orders - Notification of Service" law, passed in 2009, also alerts the victim when her protective order is about to expire? It has been noted that many victims of domestic violence are often unaware that the time has passed, and are therefore unable to request an extension or new protective order in time.

North Carolina's Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification program (SAVAN) does require such a notification by phone or email. No description of Maryland's HB1196 bill includes such a stipulation.

Either it has been poorly described, or this loophole in the law should be addressed at the county or state level, to ensure that victims have the opportunity to obtain a new order. SAVAN administrator Debbie Allen stated to WRAL 5 news in Raleigh that, in two-thirds of the 90% of domestic violence fatality cases where a protective order had been issued, the order had expired.

That statistic makes clear why such a notification is important.

It seems that my message of fiscal responsibility - and priorities of public safety, transportation and equal opportunities in education - is resonating with the voters of Montgomery County.

My video announcement speech is the most-watched Montgomery County political/election-related video of the week on YouTube.

Have you seen it yet?

Find out what all the buzz is about right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you like the speech, please email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County.

This is not a campaign backed by the Powers That Be; it's a campaign about the People of Montgomery County. So every small action you take - whether it is watching this video, emailing it to your friends, or having a Robert Dyer yard sign on your lawn, etc. - is magnified into a great action with great effects on the future of Montgomery County.

So take action now! Your small action is bigger than the biggest check! Join my crusade today, as we transform our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around.

Visit my website at www.RobertDyer.net

Together, we will bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County.

UNIVERSITY OF

VIRGINIA TRAGEDY

PUTS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NEWS AGAIN, WITH

DEVASTATING

CONSEQUENCES

The University of Virginia homicide is the third prominent, Montgomery County-related domestic violence incident in the news over the last two weeks. Latest developments include the suspected killer claiming it was an "accident." Another sad reminder that we must promote a proactive agenda to combat domestic violence. In cases such as this, all of the victim services in the world are useless. The question is, what agenda items could have prevented a tragedy such as this? We must take action here in Montgomery County, where the General Assembly has failed year after year to do so at the state level. I very much look forward to advancing this domestic violence agenda during the campaign this year. I hope all of you will join me in this effort.

A top trending topic this morning on Twitter is #HappyBDayChrisBrown. But today is a day to remember the victims like Yeardley Love, not celebrate abusers like Mr. Brown.

Before enjoying the weather this weekend, don't forget to watch my announcement speech, if you haven't already. And to email it to 10 of your friends.

English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78sXxNGmELc

Finally, if you're tired of the Washington Post's biased coverage, you have to enjoy this: The Post has an Ahab-like personal beef with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (and of course, that doesn't have anything to do with Warren Buffett's energy investments that compete with PDVSA oil, right? Right!), and is always publishing one negative editorial or article after another about him.

Well, President Chavez has started his own Twitter account, and in only 2 days, has more followers than the Washington Post!!

Washington Post: 97,310

Hugo Chavez: 119,359

AUSTIN GRILL

CLOSED IN

BETHESDA?

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Austin Grill in Bethesda has apparently closed. All mention of the Bethesda location has been removed from the Austin Grill website. I wouldn't have expected this, but I would imagine the increasing costs for the restaurant industry - and many popular alternatives nearby, such as Jaleo, Raku, etc. - could be two reasons for the closure. The restaurant appeared to be closed Tuesday evening.

Robert Dyer
Anuncia su Candidatura
para El Consejo del
Condado de Montgomery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78sXxNGmELc

I HATE TO

SAY I TOLD

YOU SO

At this rate, I am going to put Walter Mercado and Kenny Kingston out of business.

Remember when I told you that nuclear power wasn't safe, and that drilling for oil off the coast of Ocean City was a terrible idea?

And that diesel trains would be a more fiscally responsible way to bring more transit to Montgomery County by substituting new MARC routes for light rail?

I hate to say it, but I told you so!

First, there is the frightening oil rig explosion that just took place off the coast of Louisiana. While all attention has correctly been placed on rescue operations, a second wave of horror is right behind - the tremendous oil spill to come. Imagine if this had happened near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Our fishing industry out of business. Ocean City tourism? Forget about it, with oil coming ashore. Assateague Island national park? A wildlife and ecological catastrophe would have been underway.

Second, how about that "safe" nuclear power? Witness it in action at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, where tritium has leaked into soil and groundwater around the plant. Yes, a dose of that a day will surely keep the doctor away, right?

Finally, did you hear that the Silver Line Metro extension rail cars are going to cost $4.1 million apiece? Well, here in Montgomery County, we could buy passenger coaches for new MARC routes for less than a fraction of that apiece. We can't be worried about what kind of train it is; if diesel trains can allow us to build more rail lines in the county at a lower cost, we have a responsibility to consider that option. And again, without overhead wires, trees do not have to be cut down as they will be for the light rail lines.

Continue to visit www.RobertDyer.net for the latest news, and psychic predictions.

WIMPY

TAKES ON THE

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

STRUCTURAL DEFICIT

4 and 8 Year County Council Incumbents

Resort to Infamous, Well-Worn

Election-Year Playbook

Wimpy, you well-mannered scoundrel!

You remember Wimpy, of course? He was a character in the old Popeye comics and cartoons.

Wimpy was most famous for approaching someone and saying, "I will gladly pay you tomorrow, for a hamburger today."

Well, the tired and budget-busting incumbents of the Montgomery County Council have updated Wimpy's line...

In a taxpayer-funded press release, they have floated a very predictable trial balloon: they will appoint a "blue ribbon commission" (again, at taxpayer expense) of political cronies who will tell them how to restructure the county government - in 2011!!

"I will gladly balance the budget next year, if you will reelect me this year," the council is saying.

Only, this isn't as new of an idea as it seems.

Set the Wayback Machine for 2006, when many challengers in that year's election were gaining major traction on the issue of portable classroom trailers. These "trailer parks" are outside almost every school in Montgomery County. It is well-known that these trailers are unsafe for a variety of reasons. With Election Day approaching, Councilmember George Leventhal suddenly announced that the county would phase out portable classrooms - by 2012!

Ingenious, right?

True? Wrong. It wasn't worth the paper the press release was printed on.

But, the gimmick! "Reelect us today, and we will fix everything we messed up tomorrow!"

Good deal, eh?

Only for the failed leaders of Montgomery County.

The time to fix the structural deficit is NOW. We are in a fiscal crisis NOW. Real leaders don't wait. Real leaders don't delegate. Real leaders act like mature adults, roll up their sleeves, and get to work.

The other cop-out in this Wimpy scenario is that "delegating" issue. We've had this happen at the Federal level, where a "blue ribbon panel" is going to report -after the 2010 election! - that we need higher taxes, a VAT, and more, to reduce the deficit. The President and Congress will say, "they made us do it."

Recently, the Rockville mayor and council did the same thing. The city's professional budget staff presented a budget outline that took into account the current issues, as well as the real possibility that the state would make further cuts in the coming months. This meant that certain politically-popular items and tax credits were not affordable.

It was now time to make the hard decisions. The new councilmembers and mayor then voted to appoint a commission that would make recommendations, rather than take an unpopular position. The staff recommends, the council decides - or at least, that was the old theory.

The county council has done this the last two years: refuse to make the tough decisions. Last year, they were literally able to "cheat" to balance the FY2010 budget. They made minimal cuts (like taking dentures from low-income seniors, eliminating weekend and holiday transit in Damascus), got a sweetheart giveaway of COLAs from the unions, and then threw in a bunch of stimulus funny money. Finally, they illegally cut $90 million from the MCPS budget. They were able to officially break the law on that when their cronies in the Montgomery County delegation rammed a lawbusting measure through the General Assembly. That new law has shattered the claim of county politicians that they are committed to education, as it makes it possible to cut the MCPS budget every year in perpetuity.

Cheaters can win in Montgomery County, especially with the help of the Powers That Be and the local media lapdogs.

But they won't be able to do it this year - the deficit is $1 billion dollars!!!

They're getting ready to wave the magic wand again, but that doesn't solve our structural deficit.

The council doesn't plan to solve it. They will make minimal changes such as combining the Recreation and Parks Departments. But that won't solve anything. They won't anger the unions or politically-connected non-profits by making any real structural changes this year. They won't cut the waste at the management/executive level.

Then next year, their Blue Ribbon cronies will report: raise taxes. We'll have the same structural problems, but they'll try to just increase revenue to cover it.

Unfortunately, while the council has studied much about politics, they've proven they know nothing about economics.

We've reached the tipping point, where you can raise taxes as much as you want, and revenues will continue to decline each year. Meanwhile, if you fuse a few departments and leave all the political payoffs on (or under) the table, your expenses continue to increase.

This is what is called a budget catastrophe. And they're doubling down on the same failed tax-and-spend policies that got us here. The AAA bond rating will be gone, and only the most passionate limousine liberals among the rich will remain, further reducing revenue. Bankruptcy will loom, and that is a real possibility at this point.

You simply cannot tax your way out of this mess.

What's sad is that, in this case, Wimpy won't pay you tomorrow for that hamburger today.

You'll pay the taxes tomorrow, and the council will be laughing all the way to the bank. They may even believe that the Washington Post, et al will continue to passionately defend and rationalize the county's financial situation through bankruptcy and beyond.

We can't go on like this.

I urge you to consider the reality of our situation, and vote for Change Beyond Belief on Election Day.

Watch my campaign announcement video to hear about a new approach to responsible government in Montgomery County:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Change Beyond Belief, transforming our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around.

ROCKVILLE BOARD

OF APPEALS

MEMBER SOUNDS

OFF ON

BRIGHTVIEW

"SHENANIGANS"

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

What was happening at that Rockville Board of Appeals meeting a few weeks ago? One member had resigned in a fit, while a second - Alan Sternstein - had recused himself. That left two voting members. Rockville's mayor and council then appointed a "temporary" member for one meeting. To break tie votes?

Considering that the Board's decisions are ostensibly final, this tactic on a controversial project like Brightview certainly would not reassure residents who live near the site in question.

In a very difficult to follow proceeding, the "temporary" member appeared to take the role of temporary chairman, and quickly pushed through votes that could not have succeeded without his presence.

I've been unable to locate any analysis of what happened that day on any newspaper website or blog. However, in doing some research, I found something posted publicly on Facebook that the usual media suspects apparently missed.

Board of Appeals member Peter Mork spoke out on his Facebook page, and I believe the quote speaks for itself, regardless of your position on the merits or negatives of the Brightview proposal:

"Peter Mork does not like being used as a political tool. So, I hope
whatever shenanigans were being pulled at this morning's Board of Appeals
meeting don't happen again. (A temporary appointment was made by the mayor and council, ostensibly to fill an (optional) vacancy, but it quickly became
apparent that the temporary board member came with a political agenda and a
prepared speech!) ... April 10 at 4:43pm"

It seems to me there is more of a story to that "temporary" appointment, and it's not being covered by the press or shared with the citizens of Rockville. When the local media fails, turn to RobertDyer.net for the real story.

UPDATE:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

POLICE ARREST

KIDNAPPER

Montgomery County Police report the arrest of David A. Vallecillo, age 23, of the 7000 block Brookdale Drive in Elkridge. The kidnap victim, Kiara Nicole Snipes, was found with the suspect at the Hillside Motel, 6330 Washington Blvd, in Elkridge. She had only minor injuries.

According to detectives, Vallecillo had violated a protective order in the process of committing 2nd-degree assault, and kidnapping Snipes at a Wheaton gas station. Please read my previous blog entry for the full story.

Have you watched my announcement speech yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you are dissatisfied with a $1 billion dollar deficit, new taxes on top of our existing Draconian taxes, a whopping cut in education funds that the council has just made "permanent" (unless you vote them out of office), the dismantling of the Ride On bus system and much more than I can type here now...

...then you must watch this video to find out how we can resolve this crisis in our county.

URGENT!

WOMAN KIDNAPPED

IN WHEATON BY

EX-BOYFRIEND

AGAINST WHOM SHE

HAD A PROTECTIVE

ORDER

County Police Seek Public's Help in

Locating Kidnapper, Victim

Montgomery County Police are asking for the public's help in locating Kiara Nicole Snipes, age 20, and her ex-boyfriend, David A. Vallecillo, age 23, of the 7000 block of Brookdale Drive in Elkridge, Maryland. Detectives say Vallecillo allegedly kidnapped Snipes at 2:20 am yesterday at the Exxon gas station, located at 11310 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton.

If you know where either individual may be found, call the Montgomery County Police 4th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5530, or leave an anonymous tip at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

There is a Crime Solvers award of up to $1000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment in this case.

This is another reminder of the everyday presence of domestic violence in our community, but hopefully this particular case will be solved with citizens' help without leading to tragedy.

CHANGE BEYOND

BELIEF

Robert Dyer Announces Candidacy for

Montgomery County Council At-Large

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

I am excited to officially announce that I am a Republican candidate for the Montgomery County Council (At-Large). Here is my personal video message, exclusively on the Robert Dyer Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you agree with what I say in the message, please email the video to 10 of your friends today, especially if they live in Montgomery County.

It was one year ago today that I predicted in this very space that you would have new taxes to pay in Montgomery County. And once again, I was correct!

Among several new taxes in the works at the county level are an energy tax increase, and an ambulance ("fee") tax. Check past years' entries to find my exclusive report that detailed how county elected officials were able to use your taxpayer funds to create slick commercials and brochures promoting the dangerous Ambulance Fee - not even law yet!!

As I mentioned at the time, does this mean a councilmember could suggest a law, and then use taxpayer funds to print up brochures and produce TV ads to promote his or her pet project?

The ethics book is out the window again.

But back to the taxes!

Last year, I gave you one of the greatest quotes about taxes ever, from Ronald Reagan:

"If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it."

This year, I have another one of the greatest tax quotes ever to celebrate your Tax Day:

"The power to tax involves the power to destroy."

- U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall

(back in the early 1800s! - This guy must have had a crystal ball in his possession).

The County Council's power to tax has given it the power to destroy.

To destroy the lives of senior citizens who are forced out of their homes by the county's immoral and Draconian property taxes.

To destroy the county's small businesses, and scare away large firms (although I want to predict on the record, that Northrop will come to Maryland as a "[name of month here] surprise" to shake up the governor's race. Because a Virginia victory would be hard for O'Malley to overcome in the election, and the lapdogs in the local press are desperate for that Northrop to Maryland, O'Malley back to Annapolis headline. Don't you sense that deal's getting done?).

To destroy the basic services citizens pay taxes for - transit, libraries and education funding - because tax collections are down, and the county has less revenue. Despite all evidence showing that high taxes always bring in less revenue, the county executive and council are raising taxes anyway. Most of the county's millionaires have moved away, taking all the revenue with them. Apparently, the council heard that there are 4 or 5 millionaires left, and they're going to try to convince them to move as well.

They just need to get through this year, and get reelected. That is their only concern. And then, you will have the most massive tax increases you have ever paid. Will you prevent that on Election Day this November?

MARC MY

WORDS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

One more thing I'd like to add to the list of reasons why MARC commuter rail would be a better alternative to light rail for the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway:

Remember my comparison of the cost, efficiency, all-weather capability and lifespan of diesel locomotives vs. light rail? (Diesel won all categories, by the way).

Those older, cheaper locomotives can also be modified to run on alternative fuels, including waste vegetable oil.

Which makes them more "green" than light rail, which runs on what the "green" people always tell us is "dirty" energy: electricity generated by coal-burning power plants.

I'm not anti-coal; in fact, it is the most affordable and efficient source of electricity. And it employs Americans, unlike the Chinese-made mercury light bulbs and Chinese-made nuclear reactors that our "green" politicians are promoting/mandating today.

But the classic American locomotives are actually more "green" than "light" rail! Who knew?

DAMASCUS

CENTRE

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Watch a moment in Damascus history in an exclusive video on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net! See the old Safeway sign lit up at night, on a night when the store was actually still operating in the summer of 2009. Damascus history preserved once again, exclusively on the Robert Dyer Channel for your enjoyment.

Also, read why the Damascus Centre is an example of how to redevelop a shopping center, in contrast to the high-density, paid-garage-parking madness being forced upon us by the County Council, Planning Board and some developers.

DONATE TO

FAMILY OF

FALLEN OFFICER

Montgomery County Police Officer Hector Ayala (District 4) died in the line of duty Easter Sunday, while responding to a fellow officer's request for assistance at the scene of a fight.

He leaves a widow expecting triplets and a 1-year-old child. If you would like to assist them, you can donate to the fund set up by the FOP Lodge in Montgomery County:

"If you would like to donate to the Ayala Family please send your donation to the below address :

Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund
18512 Office Park Dr.
Montgomery Village, MD 20886

Checks can be made out to MCLEORF and please write "Ayala Family" in the memo area.

All Donations to MCLEORF are *tax deductible and 100% of donations with "Ayala Family" in the memo line will go to the Ayala family.

*Contributions to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund, a tax exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, are deductible for computing income and estate taxes."

MARC:

NO STRINGS

ATTACHED

A new Washington Post article discusses the controversy of having overhead wires installed across downtown Washington to power the city's new streetcars:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/05/AR2010040502927.html

Here in Montgomery County, it is widely assumed that we will have such overhead catenararies along the planned routes of the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway. However, the growing budget difficulties and dysfunctional Metro system - along with the poor to nonexistant performance of Metro and light rail during the 3 blizzards - continue to make an expansion of MARC commuter rail an affordable and efficient alternative.

The controversial Science City and other developments previously built along I-270 have all been touted as "smart growth" based upon the far-off construction of the CCT. Not only is the ridership of the non-existing CCT far overstated, but the current size of the Gaithersburg West plan far exceeds the capacity of current and future transportation infrastructure in that area.

Meanwhile, Watkins Mill Town Center is emerging as the only real smart growth development in that corridor. Why? In addition to a planned interchange with 270 (of course, it's not yet built in our cart-before-the-horse county council's mode of planning), Watkins Mill already has a MARC rail station on site.

North of the county, MARC trains take a spur into downtown Frederick. There are a variety of possible MARC configurations that could provide the rail service needed in the 270 corridor, at a greatly reduced price.

Not only do diesel locomotives require no overhead wires, they also are less expensive, easier to maintain, and keep going in all weather conditions. Furthermore, did you know that the electric Acela trainsets have a shorter lifespan than regular diesel trainsets? The original Acelas, only in service this past decade, have already reached their mid-life crisis and have a decade of service left. Meanwhile, diesel locomotives from the 60s and 70s are still running across the country.

Also, laying the track will be far cheaper with MARC expansion. Although the Powers That Be have already decided the future for us, our county and state's structural deficits demand that we examine every cost-saving measure. And as I've mentioned before, a MARC Purple Line would allow the entire tree canopy to remain with the exception of station sites. (I can't help also pointing out that, had elites and the Powers That Be left the CSX tracks in place, we could have gotten FRA funds to upgrade them to Class I status. More inept planning in Montgomery County!)

I truly believe that MARC is currently an underpromoted and underappreciated part of our minimalist transit network. We can do better, and our county deserves better. MARC expansion can give us one piece of a modern transportation system, which along with road construction and improvements, can address the gridlock that wastes our time and scares business away from Montgomery County.

JAIME ESCALANTE,

AND

THE FUTURE

OF EDUCATION

IN

MONTGOMERY

COUNTY:

A www.RobertDyer.net Special Report!

"Hi, I'm Conrad Bain, and this is a very special episode of RobertDyer.net. Now, here's Robert Dyer with a special message for the citizens of Montgomery County..."

A great American, educator Jaime Escalante, has just passed away. Of course, you've probably heard about that already.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Stand and Deliver, which as you probably know, is based on Mr. Escalante's life story. This is a movie that should be shown on the first day of school every year in Montgomery County. For the benefit of not only the students, but the teachers as well.

Anybody can cut and paste the Escalante obituary into an article or blog. I'm not going to do that here. Rather, I just want to post my own feelings and observations.

First of all, Mr. Escalante's story is one of those "only in America" stories. A native of Bolivia, he emigrated here and did what all successful immigrants do: he learned English, and worked hard.

And, in the process, a teacher from Bolivia became perhaps the most influential, successful and respected educator in the history of the United States.

Only in America.

Stand and Deliver is a movie you must screen. Sadly, it is only available in a horrid DVD version that has the quality of a camcorder filming a VHS tape version off a TV screen. I hope that the sad passing of Mr. Escalante, combined with all the fervor over Blu-ray movies, will finally give this film the full treatment it deserves: high quality picture and sound, but also lots of extras about the movie and the real man.

What do we learn from Jaime Escalante's story?

First, like any great teacher you or I may have had, he helped his students do what they thought they weren't capable of. He showed that CEO salaries for teachers, Federal control, charter schools and "school-reform" shell games aren't necessary to get results. Students need to be motivated to learn, especially when they are getting all the wrong messages in today's world.

Many students in the county who are getting the wrong message: that there is power and a future in a gang, could learn a lesson from Stand and Deliver.

What was Mr. Escalante's message to an aspiring tough guy?

"Tough guys fry chicken." In other words, it may seem appealing to be in a gang now, but what about the rest of your life? Is being a gang member a career? Of course, everyone in Montgomery County needs to ask themselves, what opportunities are being offered to young people to channel their energies into productive pursuits and lucrative careers? What is being done to extract actual violent criminals and their influence from the community? I hope we can answer that in this election year.

You also find in his real life story - and vividly so in the film - that, sadly, there are those in society who fear minority empowerment. And hence, are not too concerned with the state of education in disadvantaged schools today.

The clear message is that education is power. And that students of all income levels and backgrounds have the right to equal opportunities in education. When those are available, many of the disparities in our society today will be overcome.

Mr. Escalante's death comes at a pivotal time in the history of our county.

Our county schools are among the best in the nation. But not all of them rate the same. Not all students are able to access the same opportunities. And many begin their academic careers at a disadvantage as a result of economic and language barriers.

Some progress has been made. But much more remains to be done.

Special education is another area where Dr. Jerry Weast and MCPS have made great strides, and I believe they have the best of intentions. However, there are many legitimate issues that need to be addressed. Much like gifted and talented education, in special education, parents and students are finding that education is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

But just as this need for new and stronger programs is being recognized, there are dark forces at work attempting to permanently reduce the education budget. These elected officials at the county and state levels are supported by some developers, business interests and assorted special interests, and backed by media and extragovernmental organizations that don't answer to the voters of Montgomery County.

Just this week, we hear that County Executive Ike Leggett, the County Council, and - sadly - even Dr. Weast, are marching in partisan political lockstep to reduce the MCPS budget.

They are requesting from the state the ability to chop $137.7 million from the MCPS FY2011 budget.

It's outrageous.

I don't have a problem with cutting wasteful spending from the school system; in fact, that has to be done. But the cuts need to be made from wasteful spending, not essential programs. Someone is going to have to get the compensation issues under control before we go bankrupt. School construction contracts have been too favorable to the builders, as we saw when MCPS ended up wasting $500,000 just at Bells Mill in Potomac. Dr. Weast once spent $80,000+ a month fighting to defend an unconstitutional flyer policy.

Like Dr. Weast, our county council appears to have difficulty understanding, interpreting and upholding the law. Even though the Washington Post and other powers tell us that these councilmembers are the only ones who possess the elusive experience and vast knowledge to serve on the county council. Average citizens need not apply!

Yet that vast knowledge and wizardly understanding of "the law" seemed to fail our elite councilmembers last year!

Last year, the council asked for a $79.5M budget cut from the state for MCPS. When the state correctly spurned the request, the councilmembers placed themselves above the law, and illegally went ahead and charged MCPS $79.5M. Under Maryland state law, that was illegal, and the county was, again, correctly slapped with a $23M fine.

That was to ensure that the money was returned to MCPS for FY2010, but also to ensure that the county council would follow the law in the future.

That's where it got really scary. Partisan politics took the place of education. Now you have the governor, the Montgomery County delegation of delegates and senators to the General Assembly in Annapolis, Ike Leggett, the county council, the county school board(!!) and Dr. Weast, in unison, all supporting hundreds of millions less for schools now and in the future.

It's outrageous.

That partisan team succeeded in getting the fine revoked. Now, with all of those partisan players still in power, there is absolutely nothing stopping the county council from cutting education every single year from now on.

In a cynical county, where the local media lapdogs report only what the elected officials and special interests tell them to, this immoral action is potentially a cynical "win-win" situation for these officials in the 2010 elections. Except there will be losers: the children of Montgomery County. And frankly, the incumbent officeholders couldn't care less.

I believe this action, to deny the funds urgently needed to address the education disparities across our county, is a civil rights issue of paramount importance. Do you?

With no accountability in the press, or from education "advocates" who don't seem to care, even though they've been screaming about education funding for decades (but have suddenly lost interest now that their beloved politicians have bankrupted the county and can't get reelected unless they balance the budget on the backs of children, seniors, the poor and the disabled), who is going to hold these anti-education politicians accountable?


You are.

The people of Montgomery County. You've got to get upset about this. I question who you are and your basic sense of decency and humanity if you are just going to sit there and let these people get away with this.

Are you?

I challenge you to challenge your elected officials on this. And if they succeed in robbing the public schools of Montgomery County while transferring these funds to their cronies in the budget, I challenge you to hold them accountable at the polls on Election Day.

The death of Jaime Escalante could not be a positive development. But what an appropriate time to bring his example to the public's attention once again. A time when we in Montgomery County are making decisions that not only determine the future of education, but also what our basic concept of morality is.

TAX FEVER!

Tax Fever is more contagious than H1N1 in Montgomery County right now. The County Executive and County Council have almost reached the breaking point in bankrupting our county through their irresponsible spending. Our AAA bond rating is in danger, according to one of the rating firms.

They can't get reelected if they don't close the budget deficit. But they also can't get reelected if they raise taxes - and they promised they weren't going to raise taxes, remember?

We know that our county council believes it is above the law, as we found during the school funding debates for FY2010 and 2011. And when the law is inconvenient, just have your cronies in Annapolis rewrite it for you, right? Even if children end up paying the price for your reelection!

They'll do whatever it takes.

And that also includes being out of touch with reality.

$800 million shortfall? Wave the magic wand and cut $173 million from MCPS! Wow, that was so easy!

Can they wave it again? Uh oh. They're willing to steal money from children, seniors and the disabled in the budget. But they're not willing to steal from the special interests that got them elected!

So they may just have to raise taxes, and hope the local media will cover for them as usual.

Risky strategy, but then, this is the council president who proposed a $250 parking tax, right?

So here comes the energy tax increase! Local media lapdogs have not questioned or researched the real cost of the energy tax for the average working family. I have, and can tell you it will be far higher than the laughable $3-5 a month Ike Leggett has claimed. He's so glad he has those media lapdogs to just cut and paste the press releases into the newspaper!

Hold on!

A business tax is coming! From guess who? Nancy "$250 Parking Tax" Floreen!

She's calling it an Economic Development Authority, but now it's become clear that this is simply a ruse to add a new tax on county businesses.

That ought to jumpstart us out of a recession! That ought to create jobs!

Or, at least, that's what some of Floreen's uncomfortable political allies on the county Chamber of Commerce are kind of, sort of telling the Gazette.

Survey says?.......... BRRRRRRRRNTTTTTTT!

It seems the authority will not only create more government, more bureaucracy and more salaries and benefits for you, the taxpayer to finance, but it will also be more of a tax collector than a business creator. After all, government doesn't create business or jobs - businesspeople do.

And they can't do that if they're being taxed!

It's not even April 15 yet!

"We may be calling upon the business community to make a contribution to this, and I think over time we will," says Floreen.

As my Spanish professor used to say, "?Voluntarios o victimas?"

Take a guess.